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Health and Human Services Agency recommending the Board:
1) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign Amendment 3 of Agreement for Services 447-S1711 (FENIX 844) with Netsmart Technologies, adding a training component to the original agreement that was for the provision of the Netsmart Avatar electronic health record and billing system; increasing the total amount of the Agreement by $7,000, for a new total not to exceed amount of $924,500; with no change to the term of the Agreement; and
2) Authorize the Purchasing Agent, or their designee to execute further documents relating to Agreement for Services 447-S1711 (FENIX 844), including amendments which do not increase the maximum dollar amount or term of the Agreement, and contingent upon approval by County Counsel and Risk Management.
FUNDING: Federal and State Funding: 50% Medi-Cal, 24% Mental Health Realignment, and 26% Mental Health Services Act.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND:
In 2005, the Board approved a Mental Health Agreement to contract with the California Regional Mental Health Systems Coalition Joint Powers Authority (JPA) to develop an integrated information systems infrastructure. The JPA members researched available software systems suitable for Mental Health records and billing that satisfied the requirements of the California Medi-Cal system. As a result, the JPA selected and implemented the Avatar system, a product of the Netsmart Technologies Corporation, to achieve this goal and meet the State requirements.
Despite the quality and success of the product, the Application Service Provider (ASP) billing configuration proved to be problematic and the JPA system was dissolved by June 30, 2013. HHSA desired to continue using Avatar due to the financial and staff time investment in developing and using the software, the multitude of records contained in the software platform, and to ensure continuity of record keeping for those clients whose records already reside in the system.
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